Systems Control

Systems Control, a division of Northern Star Industries, Inc., has over fifty years of expertise as an industry leader in the design and manufacture of engineered solutions that enable the reliable delivery of energy to the world.

Their history and relationship with Michigan Tech runs deep. Born and headquartered in Iron Mountain, MI, a small mining town in the Upper Peninsula, the once small town company has grown to over 500 employees, including additional engineering offices in Pewaukee, WI and a recent SmartZone expansion in Houghton, MI in May 2015.

“With proximity to the university, the engineering talent, the technical ability that we have in this community, we thought it’d be a natural for us to open the office here, and take advantage of the talent pool and the strong work ethic.” -David Rowe, Manager – Houghton Office and Michigan Tech alumni

As its company grows, Systems Control recognizes the need to create and develop its own talent and not wait for it to come to them. For many years, owner and Michigan Tech alumni Dave Brule Sr., has made it a priority for the business to invest in its local community talent by creating a scholarship for employees to send their kids to Michigan Tech’s world renowned Summer Youth Programs. These programs not only create excitement and passion with science and engineering for those who attend, but also make memories, friendships, and experiences that will last a lifetime. Children of employees can explore programs from wildlife and outdoors to robotics and computer science. However, the talent pipeline development effort doesn’t stop there.

Systems Control also employs local high school students with summer internships in its manufacturing and engineering facilities. In 2015, seeing a need for more power engineers, the company created a $250,000 scholarship fund, earmarked for students concentrating in Power Engineering in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Michigan Tech. The first cohort of “Systems Control Scholars” was created when five students were granted scholarships of $10,000 per year to complete their studies at Michigan Tech. Many of these students are offered internship and co-op work experiences throughout their college career, potentially landing their full-time dream job with Systems Control after completing their degree.

“I am pleased to be able to support the educational and career goals of aspiring electrical engineers with the establishment of the Systems Control Scholarship program,” states Dave Brule Sr. “It is our goal to attract the best and the brightest among Tech’s electrical engineering students as Systems Control Scholars. We hope to employ them full time upon graduation.”

What makes Systems Control unique in its relationship with Michigan Tech? It is an unwavering commitment to invest in people, leveraging Michigan Tech’s faculty, staff, and students in developing collaborative partnerships to build the future together. Whether it’s supporting continuing education for employees, providing experiences for employees’ children, or providing undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to be challenged in an internship experience, Systems Control will continue to be successful in its endeavors.